Top 14 Best Companies to Work for in Indonesia in 2023
Having a larger-than-average salary is important to many people in Indonesia. A high-paying job takes care of the basic costs (like food, shopping, rent, or mortgage), while still leaving enough leftover funds to spend on some of the finer things in life.
For many Indonesians, the general cost of living is considered fair –– and significantly lower than in many Western countries with similar populations.
But to others, the salary isn’t the most important part of a job. Benefits, including strong work-life balance –– especially since so many companies in Indonesia and around the world are shifting to remote positions –– stand out as more attractive than stressful, high-paying roles.
Whatever your motives for finding the job you want, some companies stand out from the rest. Thinking of taking your career to the next level? Here is our list of the biggest and best companies in Indonesia:
What are the Biggest Companies to Work for in Indonesia?
For a country with over 270 million citizens, and a working population of around 140 million, Indonesia has plenty to offer in terms of employment opportunities for those willing and able to get the job done. Ten years ago, residents of the nation’s urban areas (or those with access to urban areas) –– like Jakarta, Surabaya, Medan, and Bandung –– were more likely to find well-paying careers at big companies than those living in rural regions. However, companies are now shifting many of their job titles to remote work, meaning that Indonesians are no longer limited to where they operate. Here is a list of some of the biggest companies in Indonesia:
Industry: Automotive
About: This conglomerate company deals in many different industries, but the automotive sector is where it is the most profitable. Astra International is Southeast Asia’s largest independent automotive group, providing cars and motorcycles to drivers throughout the country.
Number of employees: Approximately 200,000
What makes it successful: Because of Astra International’s partnerships with some of the biggest automotive brands in the world, Indonesians have access to purchasing foreign-made models like Peugeots, Toyotas, Daihatsus –– even luxury cars like BMWs.
Industry: Manufacturing
About: Founded in 1905, HM Sampoerna is Indonesia’s largest tobacco manufacturing company. Not only do they produce their own product, but they also distribute Marlboro brand products from overseas. HM Sampoerna is such a large employer throughout the nation, they’re on the Indonesian Stock Exchange.
Employees: Approximately 30,000
What makes it successful: HM Sampoerna is successful (fortunately or unfortunately –– however you want to look at it) because tobacco use is immensely popular in Indonesia. And this company has cornered the market by placing seven manufacturing facilities throughout the country to produce cigarettes and cigars that get shipped to stores.
Industry: Consumer Goods / Retail
About: Unilever, the British-owned multinational goods company, is a brand known to many people around the world, but it’s been one of Indonesia’s largest employers since it was established in 1933. Since then, it operates in East Java, North Sumatra, and South Jakarta.
Employees: Approximately 150,000 (globally)
What makes it successful: In terms of personal care goods –– household items, cosmetics, cleaning products, food, and beverages –– Unilever pretty much owns it all. Hundreds of millions of people shop every day in Indonesia, and chances are, they are purchasing products owned or manufactured by Unilever. And that’s why they are so successful.
Which Companies Offer the Best Work/Life Balance in Indonesia?
Having a solid work/life balance in 2022 and beyond is an important factor to consider when applying for a new career. Following the global COVID-19 pandemic, and the lockdowns that forced millions of people to work from home, people are recognizing the value of greater flexibility at their jobs. Many companies in Indonesia have taken notice and are offering great opportunities to their employees. Here are the best companies in Indonesia that offer solid work/life balance:
Industry: Food / Manufacturing
About: Headquartered in South Jakarta, Indofoods (or Indofood Sukses Makmur) is a well-known and respected organization that deals in the production and packaging of food products throughout Indonesia.
Employees: Approximately 70,000
Why you should work here: Not only is Indofood known throughout Indonesia for providing an excellent work-life balance for its employees, but they are also considered to provide exceptional healthcare benefits, as well as good salaries commensurate with performance and experience. Great opportunities for career development and internal growth, too.
Industry: Oil Production
About: Formed in 1968 after the merger of two earlier companies –– Pertamin and Permina –– this Jakarta-based, state-owned oil and natural gas corporation is the third-largest crude oil producer in the country (after the US-based Exxon-Mobil and Chevron), with 2020 assets valued at close to US $70 billion.
Employees: 13,500
Why you should work here: Consistently ranked as one of the best employers in the country, Pertamina provides exceptional work-life balance for its thousands of employees, not to mention comprehensive salary packages and medical benefits.
Industry: Banking / Finance
About: The largest financial institution in terms of market value (and the second largest in terms of assets), Bank Central Asia offers personal and commercial banking services via hundreds of branches throughout Indonesia.
Employees: Approximately 25,000
What you should work here: As the largest private bank in Indonesia, BCA offers ample room for growth for thousands of employees. Training and promotions (not just based on seniority) are frequent, and a commitment to work-life balance is strong.
What are the Highest-Paying Companies in Indonesia?
Having a large salary is important to a lot of people currently working in Indonesia. A high-paying job covers the basic needs of most of life’s more basic costs (food, shopping, rent or mortgage, travel, etc.), while still leaving a surplus of funds to spend on some of the finer things in life. If big paychecks are important to you, consider this list of some of the most notoriously well-paying companies in the country:
Industry: Telecommunications
About: As the largest telecommunications company and network provider in the country, Telkom offers services like mobile phones and internet to tens of millions of subscribers. For a country with a quarter of a billion people, Indonesians give a lot of money to Telkom (and their parent company Telkom Group) –– and as a result, the company pays their employees very well.
Number of employees: Approximately 24,500
Average salary range: IDR 4 million to 40 million per month
Industry: Manufacturing
About: This subsidiary of the global Coca-Cola company has been a presence in Indonesia since it was founded in 1992. They are centered on the packaging and distribution of Coca-Cola products –– which is not only responsible for producing Coke but also products like Fanta and Sprite. Because this massive organization is connected to one of the largest corporations and biggest brands in the world, the employees are some of the highest paid in the country.
Number of employees: Approximately 15,000
Average salary range: IDR 7 million to 9 million per month
Industry: Banking / Finance
About: With nearly 400 branch locations throughout the country, the privately run Bank Maybank Indonesia (part of the expansive Maybank financial services group) is a large employer –– and one that pays employees very well. Founded in 1959 as “Bank Internasional Indonesia”, it became a foreign exchange bank in 1988. It currently generates revenue in the trillions of rupiahs.
Number of employees: Approximately 8,000
Average salary range: IDR 5 million to 30 million per month
Industry: Transportation / Logistics
About: Maersk is a Danish shipping and land transportation company –– one of the most successful in the industry. In fact, it was the largest container shipping line and vessel operator on earth from 1996 until just last year. Given Indonesia’s expansive area, and it’s being surrounded by water, ocean and land transportation are vital to all aspects of the country’s overall economy. As such, the company’s Indonesian outpost is extremely profitable. And they pay their staff accordingly.
Number of employees: 83,000 (global)
Average salary range: IDR 10 million to 20 million per month
Industry: Automotive
About: Established in 1957, this conglomerate company deals in many different industries, but the automotive sector is where it is the most profitable. Astra International is Southeast Asia’s largest independent automotive group, providing cars and motorcycles to drivers throughout the country.
Number of employees: Approximately 200,000
Average salary range: IDR 5 million to 15 million per month
Which is the Best Company in Indonesia?
Based on the above information, these are the best of the best. The all-time best companies to work for in Indonesia:
Industry: Food / Manufacturing
About: Headquartered in South Jakarta, Indofoods (or Indofood Sukses Makmur) is a well-known and respected organization that deals in the production and packaging of food products throughout Indonesia. Featuring a diverse range of brands and items –– including noodles, dairy, baby food, cereals, condiments, beverages, and confectionary –– Indofood truly feeds Indonesians.
Global company size: Approximately 70,000
Location: South Jakarta, Indonesia
Why it’s the best: Not only are the company’s health benefits, salaries, and work-life balance commitment topnotch, Indofood is one of the best in the country because of the versatility of the goods and services they provide. Employees feel immense pride in working for a company that delivers throughout the nation.
Industry: Telecommunications
About: As the largest telecommunications company and network provider in the country, Telkom offers services like mobile phones and internet to tens of millions of subscribers. For a country with a quarter of a billion people, Indonesians give a lot of money to Telkom (and their parent company Telkom Group) –– and as a result, the company pays their employees very well.
Global company size: Approximately 24,500
Location: Jakarta, Indonesia
Why it’s the best: Not only is it one of the biggest companies in all of Indonesia, but its employees are paid very well, the in-office culture is strong, and there is a persistent embrace of work-life balance. Telkom checks all of the boxes.
Industry: Banking / Finance
About: With nearly 400 branch locations throughout the country, the privately run Bank Maybank Indonesia (part of the expansive Maybank financial services group) is a large employer –– and one that pays employees very well. Founded in 1959 as “Bank Internasional Indonesia”, it became a foreign exchange bank in 1988. It currently generates revenue in the trillions of rupiahs.
Global company size: Approximately 8,000
Location: Jakarta, Indonesia
Why it’s the best: Because of the relatively smaller size of Bank Maybank Indonesia (compared to other companies on our list), the work environment feels most like a family. BMI provides a valuable service to millions of Indonesians, and the fact that the company has been around for decades has instilled trust in the eyes of the nation’s banking customers.
What are the Top Industries in Indonesia?
Indonesia offers a wide array of job opportunities for those who are qualified and determined to succeed. This is based primarily on the vastness of the country’s markets which feature massively successful companies and corporations from all types of industries. Here are the top industries in Indonesia –– and some of the biggest companies associated with each:
Banking / Finance
There are a lot of banking and financial institutions throughout Indonesia. Some of the biggest include:
- Company: Bank Central Asia Employees: Approximately 25,000
- Company: Bank Maybank Indonesia Employees: Approximately 8,000
- Company: Bank Rakyat Indonesia Employees: Approximately 125,000
- Company: Bank Mandiri Employees: Approximately 39,000
Food / Manufacturing
There are a lot of companies that produce or market food in Indonesia. Some of the biggest include:
- Company: Indofood Employees: Approximately 70,000
- Company: Coca-Cola Amatil Employees: Approximately 15,000
Oil Production
As an island nation rich in natural resources, Indonesia has many oil production companies. Some of the biggest include:
- Company: Pertamina Employees: Approximately 13,500
- Company: ExxonMobil Indonesia Employees: Approximately 500
Find the Best Companies to Work For Today!
There you have it! The best companies to work for in Indonesia –– based on salary, industry, and work-life balance. If you live in this country and are considering a job change, these are the best metrics by which to gauge which companies and industries you should pursue in order to experience your best opportunities for success.
